14 DAY TRIAL // The Russian authorities do not intend to allow Snowden to go back on his commitment to stop damaging the United States.
Russian President Vladimir Putin said earlier today that Snowden had been warned that any of his actions damaging Russian-US relations were inadmissible. “We cannot and will not behave ourselves as many other countries do,” Putin said, Itar-Tass reports.
Putin further states that the interstate relations are more important “than squabbling between security services.”
“Human rights activities are interrelated with certain costs for those who engage in them. But when such activities are carried out under the aegis of the United States and its support - financial, information and political one, it is rather a comfortable business, but if somebody intends to start criticizing the United States, of course this is a more complicated business,” Putin explains.
He points out that Snowden has never set a goal to stay in Russia endlessly but was forced to do so by the situation.
“He is a young man and in fact, I do not even understand quite well how he dared to do this, how he plans to build his future life, but this is his future and his choice,” Putin metions.
Edward Snowden has filed for asylum in Russia yesterday, after making his intention known on Friday, during a conference with human rights activists.
He had filed a previous request for asylum but retracted it after Vladimir Putin asked him to stop damaging the United States if he wanted to stay in Russia.
Although Snowden has mentioned that he doesn’t view his actions to be damaging to the U.S., considering that what he does is for human rights. However, he might be willing to stop this until he gets to Latin America.
Glenn Greenwald already has several documents and he doesn’t plan to stop publishing his stories, regardless of Snowden’s asylee status.